anodino

anodyne, bland, unremarkable

adjective ah-noh-DEE-noh Rare

Origin: From Greek anodynos, 'without pain' (an- + odyne).

Usage Note

Anodino originally meant 'pain-relieving' in medical Latin, but in modern Spanish the dominant sense is 'dull, insipid, lacking character'. Un discurso anodino is a speech that causes no offence precisely because it says nothing memorable. The medical sense survives in pharmacy (un preparado anodino) but learners will encounter the figurative sense far more often.

Examples

"El evento fue completamente anodino."

Natural Translation

The event was completely bland.

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